ESPN: We are 0 players away from contending for the Super Bowl

[LittleBoyBlue]

I think those are generally silly things to say, because it did come down to it, and it came down to it for Green Bay, too. Sure, we 100% could have made plays to make up for it. That was enormous.

It's silly to blame that one play.

Garrett isn't crying about it. Neither should you.



Try and catch the tissue box...lmao

 

[Doomsay]

1 biased / directed review booth official away. Big games usually come down to pivotal plays, ask the cheating Patriots.

 

[PoundTheRock]

Gonna be up to Jason to keep these guys grounded. This team will be picked by everyone to win the NFC East in 2015 and to go far in the playoffs, if not win the Superbowl. They CAN'T eat the cheese.

 

[GermanJohn]

What you guys shoulda done is read "Pro Football Focus" and then stopped reading

 

[Cowboys22]

We contended this year. 12-4, playoff victory, lost close game to GB with a controversial call at the end. This team could have gone to Seattle and won. Would they have? Who knows, but it certainly wasn't improbable to think they could win that game. All of that equals contending. They were in the mix of teams with a chance to get there and win it. I don't need any math formulas to tell me they contended this year and should again next year.

 

[SDCowboy]

I'm sorry, how is Romo not elite?

 

[jobberone]

How close were the Cowboys to being Super Bowl contenders?
By Pro Football Focus

BREAKING DOWN THE ROSTER
To be considered a Super Bowl contender, 40 percent of the players who took part in at least 250 snaps (varies by team) have to be rated as good or elite. Here's how Pro Football Focus evaluated each of the Cowboys' 30 qualifying players.*

• Elite
• Good
• Average
• Bad

• 4
  • WR Dez Bryant
  • RB DeMarco Murray
  • TE Jason Witten
  • C Travis Frederick
  • NFL Average: 2
• 8
  • G Zack Martin
  • CB Orlando Scandrick
  • OT Tyron Smith
  • DT Tyrone Crawford
  • ILB Rolando McClain
  • QB Tony Romo
  • CB Sterling Moore
  • DT Henry Melton
  • NFL Average: 4.3
• 16
  • OT Jermey Parnell
  • OT Doug Free
  • DE Jeremy Mincey
  • G Ronald Leary
  • TE James Hanna
  • TE Gavin Escobar
  • DE Anthony Spencer
  • OLB Justin Durant
  • WR Cole Beasley
  • DT Terrell McClain
  • S Barry Church
  • WR Terrance Williams
  • DE George Selvie
  • OLB Anthony Hitchens
  • OLB Bruce Carter
  • S J.J. Wilcox
  • NFL Average: 21
• 2
  • CB Brandon Carr
  • DT Nick Hayden
  • NFL Average: 5.8

*Pro Football Focus uses its proprietary metrics to evaluate every player on every snap in every game. Each player's rating here is based solely off how his performance in 2014 compared to that of the peers at his position. For more methodology explanation, click here.


THE INSIDE STORY
Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus
by Todd Archer, ESPN.com

Dez Bryant

WR Dez Bryant: His skills are beyond question. So are his stats. He's put up three straight 1,000-yard seasons and had a team-record 16 touchdown catches. Like Murray, he is set to be a free agent, but if the Cowboys don't reach a long-term deal with Bryant, they will use the franchise tag on him. Bryant has improved each year, but he still struggles at times with press coverage despite his physical prowess. In the red zone, however, he might be the most dynamic receiver in the NFL. Since 2013, Bryant has 21 red zone catches; 18 of those have gone for touchdowns.

DeMarco Murray

RB DeMarco Murray: After missing games with ankle, foot and knee injuries in his first three years, it all came together for Murray in 2014, when he led the NFL in rushing with 1,845 yards. He did not miss a game, even playing with a broken hand. He showed the ability to make the big run, with a league-leading 45 carries of 10 yards or more, but perhaps more importantly, Murray became more efficient in picking up the "dirty yards," as coach Jason Garrett calls them. Murray is set to become an unrestricted free agent and offers up an interesting case study for the Cowboys. Is he a premier back worthy of big money? Or is he the product of an elite offensive line? Lately, teams have shied away from giving large contracts to running backs because of how quickly they seem to wear down, but are the Cowboys really going to let one of the key cogs in their 12-4 season sign elsewhere?

Zack Martin

G Zack Martin: Truth be told, if Ryan Shazier were available when the Cowboys picked in the first round of the 2014 draft, the linebacker would have been the choice, not Martin. The best decisions sometimes involve luck. Martin was named to the Pro Bowl and became the first Cowboys rookie since 1969 to earn All-Pro honors. But he brought more than just accolades. He solidified Dallas' line, especially the interior where Tony Romo, like all quarterbacks, hates pressure up the middle. Martin was a tackle at Notre Dame and RTs Doug Free and Jermey Parnell are both free agents, but Martin is too good to move out of the right guard spot.

http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/12179331/how-many-players-away-super-bowl-team

 

[jrumann59]

The defense here was only average due tot he turnovers that were forced, counting on the same amount of turnovers next year would be a HUGE mistake. Without the turnovers this defense would be bad not as bad as the previous season but bad. There were 2-3 games that this defense sealed the deal with a timely turnover.

 

[TX_Yid]

We contended this year. We had the best record in football, beat the 1 seed in the NFC in their stadium and got the shaft by ending up as the 3 seed and having to play on the road to Green Bay and Seattle to get to the superbowl. Beating those odds is tough and we fell short for one reason and another.

With that Offensive line and Romo we should be competing again next year. You have to say this year was a missed opportunity, there isn't one team that is better, was more healthy or carried better form into the playoffs than the Cowboys. Dang!

 

[SDCowboy]

The defense here was only average due tot he turnovers that were forced, counting on the same amount of turnovers next year would be a HUGE mistake. Without the turnovers this defense would be bad not as bad as the previous season but bad. There were 2-3 games that this defense sealed the deal with a timely turnover.

Bingo. We were very fortunate with turnovers on defense last season. Outside of those, our D had almost zero stopping power. I mean, how many 3rd and very longs were blown every game? This D has a very real chance of being even worse next season. You can't count on turnovers to be our defense.

 

[Staubacher]

I'm sorry, how is Romo not elite?

Because it was PFF rankings. They think Drew Brees had a better season. They love Matt Ryan too.

 

[SDCowboy]

Because it was PFF rankings. They think Drew Brees had a better season. They love Matt Ryan too.

Oh...PFF...

 

[Clove]

We need 2 pressure players on the defensive line, and those guys should be dominant.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

We contended this year. 12-4, playoff victory, lost close game to GB with a controversial call at the end.

If we are being honest. The Detroit game is a loss if not for that bs call/no call...

With that Offensive line and Romo we should be competing again next year. You have to say this year was a missed opportunity, there isn't one team that is better, was more healthy or carried better form into the playoffs than the Cowboys. Dang!

Again, if we are being honest. That oline gave up 10 sacks in those two games? Some on Romo, most on them.
Got beat up and had lunch money taken away.

 

[Clove]

If we are being honest. The Detroit game is a loss if not for that bs call/no call...




Again, if we are being honest. That oline gave up 10 sacks in those two games? Some on Romo, most on them.
Got beat up and had lunch money taken away.

I'm glad you pointed these things out so that I didn't have to.

 

[DFWJC]

Special teams! Special teams! I'm not joking. An average defense with our offense can work, but the return game needs work.

True
The return game was worse than last year. I think we ranked in the 10-12 range in both KR and PR.
That's still a good bit higher than the defense and represents a much lower percent of the net yards needed.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think Cowboys are a couple of defensive players away from a real run at the SB. We may have one already on the team in Demarcus Lawrence but I think Dallas needs to add yet another dominate player on the DL to have a real chance vs the upper tier teams.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I'm glad you pointed these things out so that I didn't have to.

Look. I would rather be posting 6 time Super Bowl champions.... 7 time..... Etc.

But unless you are blind or refuse to see what is.... Then we are in denial.


I love my cowboys.
Love my Romo.
Even love Jerry. Just want him to get it right.

Window is there but it's not wide open.

Let's do it.

 

[BigStar]

Well we were perhaps a call from playing the Seahawks for the NFC. A team we dominated in their home. A team favored over the Pats.

We absolutely could have won it all this year.

Excuse me while I go throw up.

You don't want to add a pass rusher or three? That's what that statement meant...sure we could hope an average D gets us back...better to hedge your bets?

 

[big dog cowboy]

Id say 2 DE, 1DT, 2 CB, a Free Safety away from elite

Add that to this defense and we win the Super Bowl next year if Romo stays healthy.